54% Say Bush is Politically Conservative 46% Say Kerry is Liberal

Rasmussen Reports ^ | March 13, 2004

[ThJ1800]

The President appears to be regaining lost ground among conservatives, 55% of whom now consider the President to be one of them.

I guess the gay marriage issue has helped him out in this area, but his spending habits, and expansion of government under W, are still concerns for me.

[MNnice]

Kerry is liberal and conservative, depending on who the audience is.

[MNnice]

What a meaningless poll.

[swilhelm73]

Kerry is the most leftwing candidate to ever capture a major party nomination in the United States as a matter of fact.

A fact that bears constant repeating. One can point to his congressional record and ratings for doubters...

[swilhelm73]

Most liberals say they are moderates too. It is this basic problem with honesty the left has...

[highlander_UW]

Too low.

I was trying to keep a positive outlook. ;)

[x]

For a lot of people, party affiliation and even ideological labels come from tradition or from what people around them think. They don't think things out from first principles, but take the label that the people around them have chosen. Then they vote on the basis of how the economy's doing. They aren't that interested in political questions as such, just in keeping their jobs or savings. It may be regrettable, but it's a fact of life now.

Also, I wonder how many people list themselves as "swing voters" not so much because they'd vote for the candidate of the other party, but because they are disillusioned with the candidate of the party closest to their own view. Maybe for some people it's not that they are undecided between the two candidates, but undecided between voting and not voting. Some one in the last election who was undecided between Gore and Nader, or between Bush and Buchanan, Browne or Phillips might also count as a "swing voter."

[Reagan79]

But Kucinich has a more conservative voting record than Kerry.

[writer33]

"For a lot of people, party affiliation and even ideological labels come from tradition or from what people around them think."

So much for rugged individualism. I like to think that a lot of this interpretation comes from media stories. Like Rush says, "These polls are nothing more than a reflection of media coverage."

I'd agree. People watch way too much television and believe far too much in these media reports and polls. You have valid points. But a lot of their perception comes from the media. This is why I don't even watch news anymore.

I only read papers when posting here at FR. And then, I don't believe half of what I read. It is merely to start discussion on political topics, or to uncover obvious bias in certain papers.

FR gives me all the information I'll ever need. It's nice, because I'm able to have a conversation with people that think beyond what the media thinks. They are rugged individuals and their intelligence shines through on this forum. With this, I don't and won't need to get my news from anywhere else. Everything else pales in comparison.

[SAJ]

Ah, so that's it.

Heh heh heh ...

[Owen]

Frankly, at this point, if you are polled, the correct answer to give is Nader. If we can get Nader's numbers up, he will be perceived as viable and more Dems will vote for him.

[dr_who_2]

Perceptions will inevitably kill ya.